Light signal unit



Y March 24, 1936'.

E. w, MOORE LIGHT SIGNAL UNIT 'Filed April f7, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m. nvm l n w M Nm E .NH n a x Q Nm. H m w mms h E if Gm. Q N Y M. E mm f6 t E N um Y, mm l March 24,193.6. E, W, MOORE 2,035,397

LGHT SIGNAL UNIT Filed April '7, 1951 I 2 SheeVss--Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Mar. 24, 1936 UNITED STATESv PATENT OFFICE LIGHT SIGNAL UNIT Application April 7, 1931, Serial No. 528,364

7 Claims. (Cl. 177-329) Thisinvention relates in general to light signals, and has more particular reference to a light signal for use in connection with safeguarding highway crossings.

Where highways cross railroad tracks, it is quite necessary that signals be placed to warn oncoming highway trac when a train is within danger y distance of the crossing.

This invention relates to a signal lamp forhighway crossings to be used, for example, as in Patent 1,348,507 of August 3, `1920 to E. H. Meden, and in Application 344,964 led March 7, 1929 of J. C. Mock.

One of the purposes of the present invention is to provide a danger indication visible to one on the highway, as a motorist, not only as he approaches the tracks, but after he has come abreast of, or passed, the signal, and is still on the near side of the tracks. Frequently motorists have stopped abreast of, or beyond, a crossing signal, and after awaiting the passage of a train, have crossed the tracks as soon as the train has cleared the crossing and have been struck by a train approaching on another track.

This action is in many cases due to the fact that the danger indication can no longer be seen by such a motorist, since he has stopped so close to the track as to be out of the beam of the 4 signal.

It is possible of course to have a signal which gives a beam directed toward the tracks as well as one directed towards the motorist as he lapproches the track, but to provide these two indications by separate lamps makes the lrst cost and the operation of the signal uneconomical and toprovide them from a single lamp, in a manner so that sunlight or an automobile head light or the like can shine through from one side to the other of the signal, results in the grave probabilities of phantom or false indications. v

With the above, and other considerations, in view, it is proposed in accordance with this invention to provide a signal light for highway crossings having a single light source and giving forward and rear indications, Without the possibility of phantom indications. More especially, this is accomplished by having a forward reflector for projecting light forwardly through a front cover glass, with a center opening in the reflector lor allowing light to pass therethrough after having been reflected from a second and smaller rear reflector, to give a rear indication. 'Ihe two reectors together constitute an effective bame against an outside source of light shining through the signal from one side to the other.

, the casing by-means of retaining clips 49 fas- Further objects, purposes and characteristics features will appear as the description progresses, reference being made to the accompanying drawlings showing, solely by Way of example, in a diagrammatic manner, and in no manner whatso- 5 ever in a limiting sense, one form which the invention can assume. In the drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of one embodiment of the invention, with parts shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation with parts removed.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on lines 3-3 of Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig, 2, viewed in the direction of the arrows. l5

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View on line 6-6 of Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a sectional View on lines 'I--1 of Figs. 1 and 6, viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, the device includes a main casing I having a front and rear opening therein, the front opening being closed by a door 2 hinged at 3, and having a usual sunshade or visor 4. The door 2 for the front opening, carries a cover glass, 5, colored red, and having a smooth outer surface, and an inner surface bearing vertical parallel utes or ridges, for giving the transmitted light a horizontal spread through, for example, 30 spread.

The rear opening in the casing, is closed by a movable housing 6 carrying a sunshade or visor 'I, and a. lens having its inner surface bearing concentric steps 9 for projecting a substantially .35 cylindrical beam of light, with the outer face of the lens bearing vertically positioned utes or ridges I0, so as to give a horizontal spread.

Within the main casing is a main reflector R, having a small aperture, or unsilvered, or otherwise transparent, portion I6, at its center, the

reector being parabolic in form to project a substantially cylindrical beam out through the front cover glass 5. This reflectorR is held in tened to the casing and a spring clip II bearing against the casing at its edges and against the reflector at the rear side thereof, over a cushioning apertured felt, or the like I8.

The light source employed can be an incandescent bulb I9 carried in a socket 20 by means of pins 2I so arranged with respect to the receiving slots 22 that the ilament 23 is positioned vertically, as shown, whereby to give a desired vertical spread to the light passing through the lenses. The lamp socket 20 is fastened to an elongated bracket, B, by means of bolts 24, so as to be electrically connected thereto.

A small reflector, r, for the back sight, positioned opposite the opening I6 in the main reflector R, is fastened to the support bracket B by means of two arms 25, as shown.

Fastened to the upper part of casing I, is an insulating block 26, carrying two binding posts 21 and 28, which are clamped to block 26, and hold thereagainst an outwardly projecting conducting plate 29, binding post 28 being insulated from plate 29, by an insulating washer 38, while post 21 is electrically connected to the plate. The plate 29 is slotted as at 3|, and has stamped-out downwardly projecting prongs 32, 33, and 34, three in number, in the embodiment shown, and arranged so that the upper end of the lamp supporting bracket B, can slide within slot 3l in plate 29 and be held against other than sliding movement by the springy stamped-out prongs 33 and 34 which bear at opposite sides of a ridge, 35, in the end of the supporting bracket, and the other, 32, in the groove at the opposite side of ridge 35.

Lead-in wires, are connected to the two binding posts 21 and 28, the binding post 28, which is insulated from the plate 29, having a wire 36 connecting it with the base 31 of lamp socket 20 which base is spring pressed by a spring 38, while the other binding post 21, which is in electrical contact with the conducting plate 29, requires no further wire connection, current being conducted from post 21 through plate 29, and down through bracket B to the side of the lamp socket. In this manner, the supporting bracket B for the lamp I9 serves also as a lead-in connection for energizing the lamp.

The lower end of the supporting bracket B is carried on the hub 39 of an insulating washer 40, and is held thereon by a second insulating washer 4I, with the two insulating washers carried concentrically on a slotted pin 42 which is eccentrically connected to a large threaded stem 43 received in a threaded, inwardly projecting, boss 44, on the main casing. These various parts are held in position by means of a thumb nut 45, the receiving opening 46 in the lower end of lamp supporting bracket B being horizontally elongated, and having a width just equal to the diameter of hub 39 on the insulating washer 49.

By means of the adjusting elements just described, the lamp I9 together with the reflector T, can be moved substantially along the optical axis of thesignal, by screwing the large threaded stem 43 into, or out of, its receiving boss 44. The lamp can be moved in one direction, in a plane at right angles to the optical axis of the signal by turning the threaded sleeve 42 to thereby cause the eccentric insulating hub 39 to move the lower end of bracket B, while adjustment in a right angle direction to the last said adjustment, and in this same plane at right angles to the optical axis of the lamp, can be effected by sliding the lower end of bracket B to variously position the slot in the lower end of the bracket on the insulating hub 39. The parts can be held in adjusted position by tightening thumb screw 45.

The small reflector r is elliptical, in form, and the light source is positioned substantially at one of the conjugate foci of reflector r, with the other conjugate focus substantially at the center of the opening I9 in reflector R, and at the focal point of lens 8, whereby the light reflected rearwardly'by f, is brought substantially to a point within aperture I6 so that the aperture need be but very small. The light then spreads out to substantially iill the rear lens 8, and be redirected thereby in the desired manner.

By employing an elliptical reflector for the back 5 light, a small opening, or light transparent portion, in the main reflector R is all that is necessary, and with such small opening, the two reflectors R and r constitute an effective opaque bale against outside light shining directly lo through the two openings in the casing from end to end, and thus possibly causing phantom indications.

At each side of the main casing, is a side opening 50, carrying a plane transparent member 41 15 therein, such as a piece of glass, for enabling inspection of the signal by the train crew, on passing a crossing, to observe whether or not the crossing signal is operating.

The above described construction of a cross- 20 ing signal provides a very simple and compact structure which is rugged in form, economical to manufacture, and still is most satisfactory in performance and useful life.

The above specific description of several forms of inventions, has been given solely by way of illustration, and is not intended, in any manner whatsoever, in a limiting sense. Obviously, this invention can assume many different physical forms, and is susceptible of numerous modfications, and all such forms and modifications, are

intended to be included by this invention, as

come within the scope of the appended claims. Having described my invention, I now claim:-

1. In a light signal, in combination, a casing,

a light source in the casing, and adjusting means for the light source, including, an elongated corrugated arm having a light receiving socket intermediate its ends, a slotted support,

arms on the support sprung against the corrugations on the arm to thus slidably receive one end of the arm, and means for adjusting the position of the other end of the arm in three diierent directions in space.

2. In a light signal, a casing, a terminal block carried by the casing, a conducting plate, terminal posts clamping the plate to the block, means insulating only one of the posts from the plate, a conducting elongated arm, means slidably guiding one end of the arm through the plate and in 50 electrical contact therewith, a light socket on said arm, and means electrically connecting the insulated terminal post to an insulated portion of the base of said socket.

3. In a light signal, a casing, a terminal block carried by the casing, a conducting plate, a slot formed in the plate by pressed out prongs thereon, terminal posts clamping the plate to the block, means insulating only one of the posts from the plate, a conducting elongated arm hav- "30 ing one end slidably guided in the slot in the plate and in electrical contact therewith, a rib on the arm slidably between said prongs, a light socket carried by, and in contact with, the arm,

and means electrically connecting the insulated terminal post to an insulated portion of the base of said socket.

4. In a light signal, a casing, a terminal block carried by the casing, a conducting slotted plate,

terminal posts clamping the plate to the block,

means insulating only one of the posts from the plate, a conducting elongated arm having one end slidably guided in the slot in the plate and in electrical contact therewith, a light socket on,

and in electrical contact with, said arm, means``75 electrically connecting the insulated terminal post to an insulated part of the base of said socket, and means for adjusting the other end o1 said arm in three directions at substantially right angles to each other.

5. In a light signal, a casing, a terminal block carried by the casing, a conducting plate, a. slot formed in the plate by pressing out prongs therefrom, terminal posts clamping the plate to the block, means insulating only one of the posts from'the plate, a conducting elongated arm having one end slidably guided in the slot in the plate and in electrical contact therewith, a rib on the arm slidably between said prongs, a light socket on and in electrical contact with, the arm, means electrically connecting the insulated terminal post to an insulated part of the base of said socket, and means for adjusting the other end of said arm in three directions at substantially right angles to each other.

6. In a light signal, in combination, a casing, a light source in the casing, and adjusting means for the light source, including, an elongated arm having a light receiving socket intermediate its ends, a slotted supporting plate slidably receiving one end of the arm, a collar, means eccentrically and rotatably mounting the collar, means for moving the collar along its axis, and an elongated slotted portion on the other end of the arm received on the collar the slot being elongated in one direction, and of a Width substantially equal to the diameter of the collar in the other direction, for adjusting the position of the other end of the arm in three diierent directions in space.

7. In a light signal, in combination, a casing, a light source in the casing, and adjusting means for the light source, including, an elongated arm having a light receiving socket intermediate its ends, a slotted support, one end of the arm being slidably received in the slot, a collar, means eccentrically and rotatably mounting the collar, meansfor moving the collar along its axis, an elongated slotted portion on the other end of the arm, the collar being received in the elonv gated slot to allow longitudinally and transversely slidable movement of the arm on the collar, for thereby adjusting the position of the other end of the arm in three diierent directions in space, said slotted support and elongated arm being of electrically conductive material, and lead-in wires, one connected to said socket and the other to said slotted support.

EDMUND W. MOORE. 

